The Beekeeper’s Companion Since 1861
American Bee Journal Volume 166 No. 1 January 2026 Cover Callouts: Invisible Bee Communication - 45, Vadescana: A new varroa control - 51, The impacts of pollen trapping - 61 Cover depicts a honey bee with propolis on its legs.

HONEY BEE HEALTH COALATION AMONG TEAM OF RESEARCHERS SELECTED TO RECEIVE GRANT TO SUPPORT VARROA MITE MANAGEMENT TO IMPROVE POLLINATION OF SPECIALTY CROPS

varroa on honey bee
Posted January 1, 2024

HONEY BEE HEALTH COALATION AMONG TEAM OF RESEARCHERS SELECTED TO RECEIVE GRANT TO SUPPORT VARROA MITE MANAGEMENT TO IMPROVE POLLINATION OF SPECIALTY CROPS

November 21, 2023 — The U.S. Department of Agriculture has selected a project led by members of the Varroacide Resistance and Testing Team (VRTT), facilitated by the Honey Bee Health Coalition, to receive funding as part of a new initiative aimed at enhancing the competitiveness of U.S. specialty crops. The project led by the VRTT …

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Contents – January 2024

Posted January 1, 2024

Contents – January 2024

Book Reviews: Winter Reads Frédéric Eggers de Villepin, Carol Hrusovszky, Tina Sebestyen – 21 Good News from the EPA! Randy Oliver – 39 Musings of an Old-timer, Part 3 Peter L Borst – 47 And Now, for Something Completely Different Charles Linder – 53 2023 Field Trial of Matrices and Formulations for Extended-release Oxalic Acid …

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ABJ January 2024 Cover

ABJ_January2024-cover
Posted January 1, 2024

ABJ January 2024 Cover

Morning sun casts a soft lamplight on nature’s nighttime masterpiece. The photographer in her pajamas may shudder from the cold, but the snow provides an insulating blanket to these hives. Some beekeepers rush out to brush snow from landing boards, but warmth from the clusters inside will likely have entrances clear by noon. Cheryl Burkhead …

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Letters to the Editor – December 2023

artwork found at the New Brunswick Botanical Garden in Edmundston, NB.
Posted December 14, 2023

Letters to the Editor – December 2023

Division of Labor Just thought I would share this picture of a cute piece of artwork we found at the New Brunswick Botanical Garden in Edmundston, NB.  Very cool depiction of the division of labor in the hive. Enjoy. Clyde Dildine Sisters, Oregon   Eugene responds: Very cool, Clyde! Looks like you fit right in …

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Summer Swarms Abandoning Their Queens

swarm of bees
Posted December 1, 2023

Summer Swarms Abandoning Their Queens

Typically, we consider bees of a swarm to be very sensitive to the presence of their queen, even swarms occurring in the summer. A swarm flying off and abandoning its queen is counterintuitive. With that unsettling notion in mind, consider the three following case studies, along with photographic documentation, never published before.   Case 1: …

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A Promising New Antiviral Therapeutic for honey bees

Antiviral Therapeutic for honey bees
Posted December 1, 2023

A Promising New Antiviral Therapeutic for honey bees

Every beekeeper knows varroa is the greatest biological threat to honey bee colonies throughout the world. But in fact, this is only partially true. Varroa feeds on bee fat bodies, and because fat bodies are essential to the immune system of bees, feeding by varroa weakens bees’ immune response. At the same time, viruses such …

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Make Every Holiday a Bee Holiday

regional breakdown for beekeeping tasks map
Posted December 1, 2023

Make Every Holiday a Bee Holiday

A Regional Breakdown of How to Schedule Beekeeping Tasks Isn’t it hard to “slow down” these days? Of course it makes sense that beekeepers are as busy as bees. In my work as an apiary inspector, I find myself scheduling inspections with beekeepers further and further in advance of when we meet. We schedule inspections …

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How To Control Small Hive Beetles In Your Apiary

small hive beetle
Posted December 1, 2023

How To Control Small Hive Beetles In Your Apiary

Charlene, a beekeeper in Georgia, described the nightmare she discovered in her only hive. After a summer trip to Nashville, she returned to find foul-smelling honey reminiscent of acetone pooling on the varroa drawer. From there it had sluiced off the edges in viscous globs that rolled in the dirt and settled atop the soil …

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Some Questions About My Bees I Simply Cannot Answer

small image of bees
Posted December 1, 2023

Some Questions About My Bees I Simply Cannot Answer

Maybe you have some insight Unanswered mysteries In general, I personally don’t care too much for unsolved mystery movies or similar TV shows. I like clear endings with the villain being taken away in restraining cuffs. However, when it comes to bee colony mysteries, I have been forced to learn to accept lingering unknowns. They …

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The Classroom – December 2023

The Classroom - ABJ - Jamie Ellis
Posted December 1, 2023

The Classroom – December 2023

Q  Queen cell and forced supersedure  A few weeks ago, I grafted some queen cells. I wanted to get new queens mated before winter. A couple of days before the queens hatched, I put their cells into my hives. Have you had experience doing this? Do you know if this would be a good way …

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